A delegation of ten women-led businesses from South Africa, led by Mr Ambrose Magkwale, Leader of the Department of Small Business Development from the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA), conducted a business visit to Mauritius with the aim to further strengthen regional collaboration and exploring new opportunities for trade and investment.
The visit provided a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange between Mauritian and South African entrepreneurs, while also creating a platform for networking, sharing best practices, and identifying potential areas for collaboration between women-led businesses from both countries. In this context, a workshop was organised on 4 March 2026 at the Hennessy Park Hotel in Ebene in collaboration with the High Commission of South Africa in Mauritius. The opening session brought together representatives from key institutions and members of the Mauritian business community to discuss avenues for strengthening regional trade ties.
In his address, Dr Dhrishty Ramdenee, Secretary General of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighted the importance of reinforcing regional integration between Mauritius and South Africa. He underscored the need for deeper collaboration in high-potential sectors such as wine production, superfoods, luxury jewellery and watches, as well as the potential development of grape cultivation in Mauritius with technical support from South Africa. He also referred to the successful implementation of the Export Accelerator Programme in collaboration with the UNDP, an initiative designed to help Mauritian women entrepreneurs to reposition themselves towards export markets. The program included a market access initiative to South Africa to further reinforcing trade linkages between the two countries.
Mrs Nirmala Jeetah, Director, Healthcare & Life Sciences, ITC SheTrades Mauritius Hub at the Economic Development Board emphasised that initiatives such as this visit play an important role in strengthening regional networks among women-led businesses and unlocking new commercial opportunities. She also provided an overview of the activities of the SheTrades Mauritius Hub, hosted by the Economic Development Board Mauritius. She highlighted the importance of intra-hub collaboration, which allows women entrepreneurs from different countries to exchange experiences, build partnerships, and access new markets. She concluded with the following inspiring note: «To the women entrepreneurs present today: you are catalysts of growth and agents of transformation. Your leadership is shaping the future of our economies.”
Delivering his address, Mr Ambrose Magkwale provided insights into the role and mandate of the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency, which was officially launched on 1 October 2024 following the merger of the Small Enterprise Development Agency and other support institutions. He explained that the agency is built on the vision of promoting an inclusive economy by providing both financial and non-financial support to small businesses. These include access to financing, trade support services, and enterprise development initiatives aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises. Mr Magkwale further highlighted the importance of strengthening commercial ties between South Africa and Mauritius, expressing strong interest in exploring new collaborations in trade, exports, and investment, particularly through partnerships with women-led businesses.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr HN Manzini, the High Commissioner of South Africa to Mauritius, who emphasised the longstanding relationship between Mauritian and South African businesses and the growing exchanges between the two economies.
She commended the Economic Development Board of Mauritius for hosting the SheTrades Mauritius Hub and for its continued efforts in promoting the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs. The High Commissioner also encouraged the visiting delegation to engage actively with local institutions and businesses in order to gain a deeper understanding of the Mauritian business landscape. Highlighting the importance of collaboration, she encouraged entrepreneurs from both countries to build partnerships, share expertise, and support one another in navigating local markets, thereby paving the way for more impactful and sustainable business projects.
The South African delegation comprised women entrepreneurs representing a diverse range of sectors, including skincare products, luxury watches, food products, honey products, organic rooibos tea, and leather bags and footwear. Their participation created opportunities for business-to-business exchanges with Mauritian entrepreneurs and institutions.
The workshop also featured presentations by several key institutions, including the Economic Development Board Mauritius, the Mauritius Revenue Authority, the Mauritius Standards Bureau, the Bank of Mauritius, and the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry. These sessions provided practical insights on doing business in Mauritius, covering areas such as regulatory frameworks, standards compliance, financial systems, and export procedures. Additional presentations by the Economic Development Board focused on regional trade opportunities, highlighting the benefits of strengthening economic collaboration across the region.
Overall, the visit marked an important step toward deepening economic collaboration between Mauritius and South Africa, particularly in supporting the growth and internationalisation of women-led businesses. By facilitating dialogue, knowledge exchange, and networking among entrepreneurs and institutions, the initiative reinforced the shared commitment of both countries to promote inclusive economic growth, strengthen regional trade, and empower women entrepreneurs to expand into new markets.
